Sergio Raúl
Castaño: Notas sobre la noción de mando político en
Aristóteles
The article treats with one
of the major principles of the aristotelian practical philosophy, i. e. the
distinction between rational rule and despotic power. The former rests on the
rational nature of the subjects and aims to an end which is common both to the
superior and to the subjects. On the contrary, neither of those properties are
implicated in the latter. This aristotelian thesis, shared by the whole
classical natural law theory – from Aquinas to Althusius –,
supports authority’s definition as direction toward a common good, and
shows social and political life as having an intrinsic value. Finally, the
article points out that Aristotle’s theory concerning command contests
some of the main psychological, ethical and sociological modern positions (as
those of Freud, Kant and Weber), whose conception of command is based upon
repression and violence.